Partial90% autopilot capable by 2015
“A Tesla car next year will probably be 90-percent capable of autopilot. Like, so 90 percent of your miles c…”
“Probably 2 years from now, we'll make a car that has no steering wheels or pedals.”
— Elon Musk · Apr 22, 2019 · Tesla Autonomy Day 2019 (official Tesla YouTube channel) 3:10:39 ↗
▶ WATCH HIM SAY IT @ 3:10:39 — TESLA AUTONOMY DAY 2019 (OFFICIAL TESLA YOUTUBE CHANNEL)
What actually happened
Musk promised cars with no steering wheel or pedals 'in about two years' (~2021). The Cybercab — no steering wheel, no pedals — entered production at Giga Texas in April 2026, roughly five years late. Graded partial, not delivered: it is being built but not yet sold to customers (private sales targeted for 2027) and cannot yet operate unsupervised, with the required regulatory approval still pending. Electrek: Cybercab production starts despite unsupervised-driving delays (Apr 23, 2026) ↗
The Progression
Apr 22, 2019
The promise: “Probably 2 years from now, we'll make a car that has no steering wheels or pedals.” · Tesla Autonomy Day 2019 (official Tesla YouTube channel) 3:10:39 ↗
Apr 23, 2026
Partial — 5.0 years late. Musk promised cars with no steering wheel or pedals 'in about two years' (~2021). The Cybercab — no steering wheel, no pedals — entered production at Giga Texas in April 2026, roughly five years late. Graded partial, not delivered: it is being built but not yet sold to customers (private sales targeted for 2027) and cannot yet operate unsupervised, with the required regulatory approval still pending. Electrek: Cybercab production starts despite unsupervised-driving delays (Apr 23, 2026) ↗
Today · Jul 16, 2026
Status: Partial · 5.0 years late. Sort of happened.
Cars with no steering wheel by 2021 was unveiled in April 2019 with the notable detail that "In two years, Tesla will be making cars with no steering wheels or pedals." Millions of Tesla stakeholders and the broader automotive industry are affected and waiting for this autonomous vehicle innovation. This follows Tesla's pattern of similar predictions for self-driving technology, including robotaxis expected next year. The shift to fully autonomous cars without human controls could transform transportation by enhancing safety and efficiency through advanced software and hardware already in Tesla vehicles.
Receipts
LAST CHECKED 2026-06-17- [VIDEO] Tesla Autonomy Day 2019 (official Tesla YouTube channel) @ 3:10:39
- [REPORT] cnbc.com
- [REPORT] CleanTechnica Autonomy Day live quotes
More from the feed
Partial
PartialLA to NYC autonomous drive by end of 2017
“Our goal is, and I feel pretty good about this goal, that we'll be able to do a demonstration drive of full…”
PartialFSD ‘feature complete’
“While it's going to be tight, it still does appear that we will be at least in limited -- in early access r…”
goalposts: 2019 · moved 0×
/// The Daily Verdict
Know the moment a prediction lands — or doesn't.
One email a day, only when something changes: a new promise, a blown deadline, a goalpost move, or a rare on-time delivery. No spam, instant unsubscribe.
Discussion